As the weather begins changing it becomes more comfortable, making both anglers and anglerettes restless to wet a line. Fall is one of the best fishing times all year, offering plenty of fishing opportunities. During the autumn months, as water temperatures cool, fish become environmentally comfortable in their habitats; this makes them much easier to pattern. During autumn and early fall, tidal creeks, rivers, and canals are especially disposed to catching with less fishing.

As cool weather drops the water temperatures we begin seeing an upturn in fish activity. Its nature’s way of shooting off a flare, signaling the first changes in water temp. Fish get comfortable and excited about eating, and often begin schooling around tidal currents and eddies. Unlike summer when you’re catching a few fish, there is something stimulating about fall fishing, because it usually supplies plenty of electrifying action.

Fish favor moving water… it’s a food thing and something called conditioned behavior. That’s why you’ll always find them hanging around tidal areas like rivers, creeks, and canals. Naturally, tidal flows will fill and drain these areas and it’s this same water flow that carries their next meal. Fish instinctively know that food arrives with, and in the same direction of, the current. Accordingly, you’ll find them hanging around points, cuts, or eddies and always facing oncoming current. Lure or bait presentation is critical and tied directly to your success. Since baits seldom swim up current a natural presentation is critical. Always present your bait or lure up current and work it back with the flow.

The same presentation scenario applies as cool water forces them deep. Fish go deep for different reasons; during the summer they go deep to escape hotwater. The same is true as water temperatures cool; fish go deeper to stay warm. Regardless of whether they’re deep or shallow they will always face current flow. The bottom of any body of water is seldom flat. There are usually rocks, old channels, river bottoms, or sandy elevations produces by years of current flow. These all form some sort of an eddy, especially during moving water. As food washes over or around these points, nature has provided fish with the instinct to position themselves near these feeding stations.

Later in the fall, as fish pattern deeper, diving lures, skirted jigs, and jigs with soft scented plastics work especially well. When the fish seem reluctant to bite, veteran anglers often tip their jigs with pieces of fresh bait for moreconsistent hook-ups.

This time of year can offer some outstanding opportunities to catch quality fish. The pleasant change in weather also makes it more enjoyable for the angler. Over the next few months, if you get the bug to get out and do a little fishing, remember tidal creeks, rivers, and canals can offer awesome fishing action.

What’s Biting in Tampa Bay This Month?

Snook: Excitingly the snook bite's been very well. I’m certain last winter's cold weather kill has taken its toll on this prize target. Regardless, we’re catching some nice fish. We’re catching them on live and artificial lures and moving water seems to trigger the bite. I’m finding them in places we did not fish last year; so do go to the same old spots… explore new areas.

Redfish: The reds are on the move and showing up around the bay. We’ve had good catches on live pilchards with or without a cork. Occasionally they get a little stubborn, so just change over to cut bait, on the bottom, and they’ll find it. Grass flats with sandy potholes and large schools of big mullet are great starting points. As the tide levels reach the mangroves they push back into the roots, so cast it close and hang on.

Spotted Sea Trout: Everyone loves a good trout bite and it’s that time of year, when the big ones start migrating inshore. Shrimp is the favorite bait of choice but remember artificials on a light jig head always catches trout. Hop and pop it over a broken bottom grass flat and shortly you’ll have a limit for dinner.

Spanish Mackerel & Bluefish, Mangrove Snapper: Tampa Bay is absolutely full of glass minnows and it’s a feeding frenzy everywhere you look. Because they’re feeding on small baits, try to match the hatch when tossing lures or live bait to feeding fish. Just look for breaking water and diving birds and have a ball on light tackle. Snapper are on the markers and fish attractors located throughout the bay. They’re also around bridges and older established docks. Small pilchards and shrimp seem to do the trick.

Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing...
Captain Woody Gore is the area’s top outdoor fishing guide. Guiding and fishing the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas for over fifty years; he offers world class fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories.

Single or Multi-boat Group Charters are all the same. With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or tournament. Just tell him what you need and it’s done. Visit his website at: WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM, send an email to wgore@ix.netcom.com or give him a call at 813-477-3814.